Crutch.



SAMUEL W. SAYLOR, OJ? MEDIAPOLIS, IOWA.

CRUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed ctocer 9, 1915. Serial No. 54,999.

To all whom t may concern:

.Be it known that I, SMIUEL W. SAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mediapolis, in the county of Des Moines and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crutches; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to crutches, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a crutch which is foldable, so that the saine may be folded into a compact form and placed within a suitcase or like structure when it is desired to carry the crutch from one place to another, without using the saine, .in which the side or supporting arms of the crutch are constructed of a plurality of pivotally connected sections, the ends of which overlap each other, and to provide sleeves which are slidably mounted upon the supporting arms of the crutch and may be .slid over the overlapping end of the pivotally connected section for holding them locked in an extended position, and further to mount enlargements upon the inner surfaces of the sections of the crutch over 'which the sleeve may be slid when not in use, so as to prevent them from moving longitudinally upon the sections of which the supporting arms of the crutch are formed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view this invention consists in such novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter incre fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

in describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters designate like er corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved crutch showing the same in an extended position. Fig. 2 is anedge view of the crutch, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the crutch showing the same in a folded position.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 and 2 designate the supporting arms or legs of the crutch each of which is coinposed of a plurality of sections 3, l and 5. The sections 8, t and 5 are constructed of iiat metal bars, and the sections 3 and pivotaliy connected to the upper end of the sections 4iby a bolt G which extends therethrough and through the hand grip 7 of the crutch. The hand grip 7 is constructed in the usual manner, being substantially cylindrical shaped thata firm grip may be had upon thc same during the use of the crutch. The lower ends of the sections i are pivotally connected to the upper ends of the sections 5, by a bolt 8. The pivotally connected ends of the sections overlap, so that when they are in an extended position, as shown in Fig. 1 `of the drawings, the sleeves 9 and 10 may extend over the upper free ends of the sections l and the upper free ends of the sections 5 respectively, for preventing accidental pivotal movement of the sections with respect to each other during the use of the crutch. The sleeves or collars 9 are shaped so that they will fit snugly over the free ends of the sections which project above the pivotal points, and when the crutch isin a folded position, as is shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, the sleeve rests against or upon pads 11 which are attached to the inner surfaces of the sections 3 and t. The pads 1l are constructed of any suitable type of material such as leather, rubber or the like which will grip the inner surfaces or bores of the sleeves sutliciently to prevent them from sliding along the sections when the crutch is in a folded position and not in use.

The sections 5 of the crutch arms or sides are bent inwardly toward each other a short distance below the upper ends and are attached to the leg 12 of the crutch. r1`he leg 12 may be constructed of any suitable material and is preferably circular shaped in cross section as is ordinary in forming the lower portions of crutches. Another noiseless, anti-slipping cap 13 is mounted upon the end of the leg or tip 12 of the crutch. The upper end of the section 3 of the crutch legs 1 and 2 are bent outwardly as is shown at 14 and are secured to the under surface of the ends of the arm support 15 of the crutch.

rThe sections 3', 4 and 5 of the crutch supporting legs are straight, so that the lower end ofthe crutch will be considerably nar` rower than the upper end to which the arm rest 15 is attached, and also so that the point of the pivotal connection between the sections 3 and 4t at which point the hand grip 7 is provided is greater in width than the lio " posed of a plurality ofpivotally connected' tain minor features of construction, combinationv and arrangement of parts may neces.-

.sitate alteration towhichthe patentee is entitled provided such' alterations are comprehended Within the scope of What is claimed.

What is claimed is In aA crutch structure, crutch legs com- Copies of this patent may be obtained for sections, the ends of said sections extending beyond their pivotal connection, sleeves slidably carried by said sections for extension over said extending ends for holding said sections against accidental pivotal movement ivith respect to each other, and pads carried Vby the inner surfaces of certain of said seetiens and provided for being engaged by said sleeve for preventing accidental slidable movement of said sleeves when said sections are in their folded position.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

' SAMUEL W. sAYLoR.

TWitnesses:

ROBERT Fos'rnn, JAMES lV. SA'inR.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

